WWF Footwork for Jibing and Wave Riding
Written November 2024
Proper footwork makes a big difference when jibing and wave riding while windsurf wave foiling. Foot movement and placement allows you to make adjustments in the middle of your jibe or wave ride. You can use the foot switch as a means to pump the foil in light wind, or you can use the foot switch as a means to hold the nose down in high wind. Let's take a look.
We'll start by comparing footwork to a typical windsurfing step jibe. Below is a picture of numbered foot positions that we will refer to. Assume we are on starboard tack when looking at the picture. In a regular windsurfing jibe your rear foot will move across the board from position #5 to position #2 while your front foot remains at position #1. This will be very similar in the WWF jibe or WWF wave turn, however, the front foot is turned more to point at the nose of the board. In a regular windsurfing step jibe the rider typically moves the front foot from position #1 to a position that is between positions #2 and #3, and then moves the rear foot from position #2 to position #4. A regular windsurfing jibe is typically a two step jibe.
WWF, however, can be a two or three step jibe depending on what is needed for the conditions of that jibe. Here are the typical situations:
Strong Wind: If you are very overpowered then the following two-step foot switch helps to hold the nose of the board down. Move your back foot from position #2 to position #4, then move your front foot from position #1 to position #2. This keeps the nose of the board down as both feet are momentarily near the mast base. This also works very well when switching your feet as you are going down a steep wave that is increasing your foil lift. Both feet momentarily in the forward position helps to keep the nose down when it wants to lift.
Medium Wind: This is a three step foot switch. Move the front foot from position #1 to position #3, then move the back foot from position #2 to position #4, then move the new back foot from position #3 to position #2. This technique is what I use most often for jibing and wave riding as it is the easiest to learn.
Very Light Wind: This is a two-step foot switch where you one-pump the foil during the foot switch. Move your front foot from position #1 to a position between #2 and #5 with a momentary pause at that position so that the weight of both feet near the rear of the board causes the foil to slightly pump upward. It helps if you start with the board low to the water. Then move the rear foot from position #2 to position #4, and when this new front foot lands be sure to transfer a lot of weight onto that new front foot to drive the foil down. With practice you will create a one-pump action in the foil during the middle of the jibe allowing you to complete a jibe in very light wind with that one-pump action creating lift during the jibe. It works really well, but takes a lot of practice.
Strong Wind: If you are very overpowered then the following two-step foot switch helps to hold the nose of the board down. Move your back foot from position #2 to position #4, then move your front foot from position #1 to position #2. This keeps the nose of the board down as both feet are momentarily near the mast base. This also works very well when switching your feet as you are going down a steep wave that is increasing your foil lift. Both feet momentarily in the forward position helps to keep the nose down when it wants to lift.
Medium Wind: This is a three step foot switch. Move the front foot from position #1 to position #3, then move the back foot from position #2 to position #4, then move the new back foot from position #3 to position #2. This technique is what I use most often for jibing and wave riding as it is the easiest to learn.
Very Light Wind: This is a two-step foot switch where you one-pump the foil during the foot switch. Move your front foot from position #1 to a position between #2 and #5 with a momentary pause at that position so that the weight of both feet near the rear of the board causes the foil to slightly pump upward. It helps if you start with the board low to the water. Then move the rear foot from position #2 to position #4, and when this new front foot lands be sure to transfer a lot of weight onto that new front foot to drive the foil down. With practice you will create a one-pump action in the foil during the middle of the jibe allowing you to complete a jibe in very light wind with that one-pump action creating lift during the jibe. It works really well, but takes a lot of practice.
There are several other footwork combinations, but those are the basic three that I use most often in those particular conditions. Have fun! See you on the water.
